Ferndale students pitch in to improve Lost Coast headlands

Students from Ferndale High School spent an entire day in early April cleaning up and improving public lands in their North Coast backyard.

About 40 students joined with BLM staff members on April 6 to work on the Fleener and Guthrie Creek trails in the Lost Coast Headlands area. They repaired winter storm damage, built water bars, and cleared invasive weeds.

A group of four students also got the chance to put their woodworking skills to good use, building wood duck boxes in their carpentry class and then installing them in prime wood duck habitat, below.

While some students worked on habitat improvement, others worked on developing a video public service announcement that will be part of the Outdoors Cool campaign that encourages young people to get outside and discover nature. Information on the campaign is available at www.outdoorscool.com.

High school students ride horseback on the beach, top photo, and work with an Outdoors Cool prop in production of a video public service announcement.

Developing a long-term productive relationship with Ferndale High School is an important priority for the BLM Arcata Field Office, said Interpretive Specialist Leiskya Parrott. "We hope the students will inspire others to follow their lead of responsible public land ownership and ethics," she said.

The school is enthusiastic about the partnership as well. Said Principal Jack Lakin, "Thanks to BLM for all the efforts in organizing, supporting and participating in such a cool community service project for our school. My only question is, 'what can we do next?'"

The Lost Coast Headlands area is about six miles west of the Victorian Village of Ferndale. The area provides beach access on two hiking trails. For information and current conditions visit www.blm.gov/ca/arcata and click on the Lost Coast Headlands link.